Fire-escape.



No. 683,667. Patented 0ct. l, I90].

N STEPHENS FIRE ESCAPE.

(Appl c mam 28 1900,

2 Sheety-Sheet I,

(No Model.)

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No. 683,667. V Patented on. 1,, l90l. N. STEPHENS.

FIRE ESCAPE.

(Application filed Mar. 28, 1900.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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. UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NELSON STEPHENS, OF YAZOO CITY, MISSISSIPPI.

Fl RE-ESCAPE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 683,667, dated October 1, 1901. Applic ti n filed March 28, 1900. Serial No. 10,521. on model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, NELsoN STEPHENS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Yazoo City, in the county of Yazoo and State of Mississippi, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escapes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as willenable others skilled in the art to which. it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to fire-escapes of the class comprising a housed double drum, ropes adapted to wind reversely upon the drums, and harness for attaching the person to the ropes, the purpose being to improve the general construction, minimize the number of parts and cost of manufacture, and to provide a device of this character which can be conveniently handled by one person and be stowed in a room without being unsightly or in the way, since it can be ornamented and used as a stool.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and the drawings hereto attached.

While the essential and characteristic features of the invention are necessarily susceptibleof modification, still the preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in Which Figure 1 is a perspective view showingthe device as it will appear when in position for service. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the device in compact form. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the double drum. Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the box, the cover being removed. Fig. 5 is a section on the line X X of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a section on the line Y Y of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a vertical section of the hasp-fastening.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

The housing or casing for inclosing the op erating parts is of box form and constructed, preferably, of wood for the sake of lightness and is rein forced at its ends by means of metal bars 1, embracing the bottom and sides thereof. The top side of the box or housing 2 is closed by means of a cover 3, which is hinged at one end to the rear side of the box, preferably by means of bars 4, firmly attached to the ends of the cover and having pivotal connection at one end with the upper ends of the metal bars 1, applied to the rear side of the housing. Hasps 5 have pivotal connection with the front ends of the bars 4 and their free ends are formed with openings to receive catches 6, applied to the upper ends of the bars 1, secured to the front side of the box. These catches 6 are connected by a swivel-joint with the front terminals of the bars 1 and after passing through openings in the swing ends of the hasps 5 are given a quarter-turn, so as to secure the hasps against accidental displacement. The bars 4 are provided intermediate of their ends with eyes 7, which receive rings 8 at the lower ends of ropes 9, having hooks 10 at their free ends and by means of which the appliance is secured to a convenient portion of the building when the fire-escape is required for service. As shown, the window-casement is provided with spikes or fastenings 11, having eyes at their outer ends to receive the hooks 10 when the device is placed in position to lower a person from an upper room or apartment.

The drum is double and consists of a shaft 12 and disks 13, three in number and located at the ends and midway of the shaft. A spindle 14 passes centrally through the shaft 12 and its ends project beyond the extremities thereof to obtain bearing in opposite sides of the box. The lower portion of the sides is thickened, as shown at 15, and the upper portion is considerably thinner, the thickened part appearing upon the inner side of the box and forming a shoulder which is notched in its top edge to receive the projecting end of the spindle 14. The notches 16, formed in the top edges of the thickened parts 15, incline in opposite directions. Hence the drum cannot be displaced by a direct vertical movement, and when placing it in position or removing it from the box it is necessary to press the terminal portions of the spindle in opposite directions conformable to the position of the entrance ends of the notches 16. The middle disk is provided adjacent to the shaft with an opening 17 for the passage of the rope or cord 18, the end portions of which are adapted to wind reversely upon the members of the drum. The disks 13 have a portion cut away at the same side,whereby the space 19 is formed between the straight edges and the opposing or front side of the box, and in which space the harness and loose portions of the ropes are placed when the device is not required for immediate service.

The rope or cord 18 may be of any length and is passed through the opening 17 of the middle disk 13, leaving the parts upon opposite sides of about equal length. The end portions of the rope 18 may be considered as independent ropes, and each of these ropes is provided with a double stirrup 20, which is attached thereto midway of its ends. Hence when a part of the rope is wound upon the drum until the stirrup touches the box the unwound portion will reach to the ground. A belt 24: is attached to each of the ropes at a distance above the stirrup and is provided with a ring 22,which has positive connection with the rope and belt, so as to prevent casual displacement.

The device normallyhas an end portion of one of the ropes wound upon a drum, the otherend portion of the rope and the stirrup being placed loosely in the space 19. The other rope and stirrup is likewise placed in the space 19, as well as the ropes 9 and belts 21, the top edges of the sides of the box being notched to receive the several ropes and admit of the cover 3 closing tightly upon the box. Openings 23 are formed in the bottom of the box for the end portions of the rope 18 to pass through.

When the device is required for action, the box is opened and the ropes 9=withdrawn and the hooks 10 thereof engage with the eyes of the spikes or fastenings 1.1, after which the rope loosely placed in the box is thrown to the ground, as well as the loose end portion of the rope havinga part wound upon the drum. The person seeking escape fastens the belt around the waist or upper portion of the body and steps into the stirrup and begins the descent, the latter being regulated by grasping the rope previously thrown to the ground. As the descent progresses the opposite rope bearing the stirrup winds upon the drum and the stirrup is elevated,so as to be reached by the next person seeking-"escape. Itwillthusbeseenthat asone rope unwinds by the weight of the descending persontheother rope is wound upon the drum and brings the harness attached thereto in position for use by the next person. From the foregoing it will be observed that the structure involves a simple and compact construc tion and is easy of operation and the person escaping can regulate the speed of descent. The end portion of the rope below the stirrup,- besides affording a means for regulating the descent of the person escaping after the stirrup of the opposite rope has passed beyond reach, can also be utilized by a person upon the ground to draw the escaping person away from the face of the building, so as to avoid flames issuing from a window or opening, as will be readily comprehended.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In a fire-escape, a box or housing having its opposite sides thickened at their lower portions forming inner shoulders and having the top edges of the thickened parts notched, the notches on the two sides being inclined in-d ifferent directions, and a drum having the terminals of its shaft obtaining bearings in the notched portions of the thickened parts, substantially as set forth.

2. The herein-described fire-escape comprising a box-shaped housinghaving the lower portions of its opposite sides thickened and provided with a hinged cover, metal bars re inforcing the end portions of the box and cover, securing-ropes applied to the bars at tached to the cover, a double drum located in the box and.- having the end portions of its shaft mounted in notches formed in the top edges of the thickened side portions, ropes 3. In a device of the-character described, a housing, a donbledrum. journaled therein, a rope secured at its middle portion to the drumwith an end. partially wound on one part of said drum. and. the other end adapted to bewoundontheothergpart of the drum when the first-named end is being unwound, and a harness on each end of the rope midway be tween its extremities whereby when either harness is atits lowermost position,-the other harness is at its uppermost position and both ends of the rope remain on theground throughout the operation, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

NELSON STEPHENS.

Witnesses:

H. L. FRANKLIN, S. D. Rowe. 

